For those of you who don’t live in a city with Air America Radio, it was essentially the first progressive talk radio network in a medium dominated by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and other conservative fascists. Portland was one of the initial three cities where Air America went on the air back in 2004, and the first time I listened to Randi Rhodes’ show I was hooked. She’s brassy and funny, the woman knows her facts better than anyone I’ve heard and she doesn’t take any shit.

Rhodes was suspended indefinately last week because of the comments she made in the following video clip:

I am really upset about this because she was essentially doing a stand-up comedy set, and if you haven’t noticed, stand up comics don’t typically mince words. I also think that her anger with Clinton is justified, were the superdelegates to alter the will of the people in the Democratic nomination it would rip the party apart and disillusion the millions of young voters and people from other groups who have been inspired by Barack Obama – many of his supporters are not part of the democratic base and are coming into the political process for the first time.

While I have voiced my preference for Clinton previously I think we have come to a point where the only appropriate thing for her to do is accept that the race is essentially over – his message has resonated better and with only a handful of states to go she has almost no chance of turning things around.

One of the reasons I like Randi Rhodes is that she is unerringly critical and independent. Other Air America talk show hosts were given startup funds by the DNC, but she turned that down. On the Conservative side, all the hosts regurgitate the same talking points issued by the Republican party. Rhodes is different because she doesn’t allign herself with party politics – she calls it as she sees it and isn’t afraid to call out a Democrat when she thinks they are in the wrong. We should be questioning our leaders. I hope Air America comes to their senses and recognizes that their place isn’t to censor – and she was not on the air when she made these comments anyway. Get her back on the air!